Entries tagged with:
architecture

I came across a flickr set today with some amazing pictures of an abandoned housing complex called San Zhi outside of Taipei, Taiwan. A google search didn't bring up much information, but from what I can gather, it was apparently built in the early 1980s as a series of vacation homes marketed towards affluent Taipei residents seeking to get out of the city.

The speculation about why the site was abandoned varies, with the most interesting being that a series of fatal accidents occurred during construction, causing locals to believe the site was haunted, and therefore instigating the developer's decision to stop construction (and also putting a stop to any future redevelopment). A more mundane reason listed for the abandonment was the developer running out of money, but I'll go with the first reason, thank you!

Architecturally speaking the houses are super cool, being very futuristic for the 80's (even by today's standards) with the cantilevered, modular pods houses (think Archigram). Check out more amazing photos from two flickrsets after the jump!

My latest obsession discovered at IDS08... Inflate's airy structures! I fell in love with the white Luna cave/igloo that was set up in the corner of the show floor. There was also a black one, but with a silver exterior (i guess less likely to melt down in the sun if outside?) it wasn't nearly as appealing. But the white one you can see images of below, it's the perfect size for a playful rooftop studio space, or even in a backyard... it would probably be incredibly fun to have projections on the interior when its dark out... Anyhow, this prompted me to do much reading on the Inflate site, and this UK design and production studio was established in 1995 when founder, Nick Crosbie, was fresh out of RCA creating smaller scale products like fruitbowls, egg cups, ashtrays, etc.... with the first collection launched at 100% Design London it snowballed, and now they have 2 production facilities in the UK and an HK office! Naturally with a need for booths at competitions, the inflatables scaled up, and now they have moved into semi-permanent and permanent architectural structures as well! See many images below of why i'm smitten, and toying with whether 7,000$ for a pop up Luna is a worthwhile expense...

This recently completed project by Andrew Berman Architect was designed as a library and studio for a writer. As you approach the studio, you are greeted by an oversize glass door, with nothing but trees providing a contextual scale for the building. The building is divided programmatically, with the studio lifted up off the ground (and therefore providing privacy from neighbors), and a storage area located at ground level. With the studio floor situated at the elevation of the tree canopies, a floor to ceiling picture window provides the inhabitant with panoramic views of the wooded area beyond. A building-wide skylight floods the studio with daylight. The exterior of the building is clad in copper, which is meant to weather naturally over the years.

Here's an embarrassing thing to admit: yes, i am obsessed with great product/user experience design, but for some reason i never got totally obsessive when it came to architecture... but i LOVE going to architectural exhibitions to see what little people, trees, and cars they used, and taking super close up images of their worlds. Well, continuing that 2D Ring trend, these metal silhouettes for architectural projects are just genius. I spotted these over at architecture centered gift guide! These Modellfiguren are by Haseform. And at a mere 5 euro for a sheet, who can say no? You can buy them at modular.

I was just checking out the portfolio of Wat Design and i found this "ILSE media, head office - interior design of the HQ, totally designed out of 2D flat panels with pixel design. Simcity office garden". In this pixel wonderland ~ the first thing i thought was ~ wow its like a real world Diesel Sweeties mash up! I feel like if i were walking around in there, i would look down and see myself in pixel form! Anyhow, they have converted nearly everything... from coat racks and trash cans, to stickers of pixel cell phones and calculators, pixel food on pixel plates on pixel table clothes, and pixel sunsets, and pixel trailers and lunch trucks in life size (OH, and even a pixel window by the urinals...)! See the images below, and see more fun projects over at Wat Design.

I just spotted this incredibly cool shipping container/Illy cafe titled the "Push Button House" on The Cool Hunter ~ and it brought back a flood of memories, of all the other fascinating uses of shipping containers that have come up on NOTCOT in the past (full pictorial reminiscing below of more than 10 breathtaking reincarnations) from instant server black boxes to bars to art galleries and more. But check out how this Illy one opens! And how much they pack in there? Shade Elaine and i are thinking this might be the way to have the perfect mobile studio, and we can drop down in random backyards of friends all over the world? Hehe. Ok anyhow, i digress.

"Holiday shoppers milling about the Time Warner Center in New York will have a fabulous chance to experience one of these soon. Between November 28 and December 29, 2007, they can rest, relax and sip a perfect cup of illy espresso in one of Kalkin’s creations, the temporary Push Button House cafe that the Trieste, Italy-based illycaffè will install there. The European premier of this concept by Alan Kalkin and illy took place at the 52nd Venice Biennale where illy continues to partner with the Fondazione La Biennale di Venezia by providing the visitors each year a space to relax and enjoy their complimentary espresso." Adam Kalkin has an impressive portfolio of living/lounging spaces created from shipping containers as well ~ more images of those as well as an animation of the Push Button House opening below!

DesignBoom has a great post this morning on Concrete Blond at Designersblock ~ Instead of wallpapering a concrete wall, they apply the wallpaper patterns through texturing the concrete... and the result is a mesmerizingly beautiful unexpected result. More images below both from Design Boom and Concrete Blond.

Of the many stories, myths, and just all around Chanel lore that i can't seem to get out of my head yet (expect a few more posts just so i can clear my head)... the one i woke up with that was driving me crazy was that Coco Chanel designed her first Chanel No.5 bottle to perfectly match the shape of Place Vendome (where the Ritz is, and where she basically lived... although her apartment for inspiration and taking guests was just behind it on Rue Cambon... but more on that in a few days). They also claim that it is unknown whether this matching shape was intentional... and its not like THEY had google maps back in 1921. So i HAD to check. The designer in me had to know for sure, while the rational part of me assumed the Chanel folks wouldn't just make something like this up. And as you see, they weren't kidding. Below, more images... and also some quick pics from the Assouline set of Chanel books they left on my bed... its really fun to see the old sketches of the bottles, and even how they have evolved over the years... but still fit the Place Vendome proportions.

When I was a wee kid I loved playing with water. In fact, I used the backyard patio as my giant canvas, drawing stuff on the concrete with just water and my little fingers. And then *poof*, it all disappeared and I had a blank canvas again. Notcot and I are always dreaming of a future studio and how we'd decorate it and what stuff we'd have in it... Well we agree these Solid Poetry slabs by Amsterdam based designer Frederik Molenschot are a must! The hidden design appears when it comes into contact with water. We could enjoy our future studio's patio/deck even when it's rainy outside. And it'd make me feel like a kid again... Check out images of multiple slabs put together after the jump!

Recently been apartment/condo/loft shopping ~ and one of my biggest priorities are sunlight and big windows and balcony/patios/roofdecks. Too bad i can't simply pop in a Bloomframe from Hofman Dujardin Architecten in Amsterdam. As a two in one, balcony and window, the design gives "the possibility to use the surface of an apartment to the maximum." More imagery of it in different angles below.